Hyundai Ioniq 5: Driving Innovation with Customer-Centric EV Advancements

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Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT drives in the desert (Carney, 2024).

With improvements to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the Hyundai Group is pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle research and making the vehicle even more appealing.

As a member of Hyundai’s E-GMP EV product family, changes to the Ioniq 5 preview other future EV models and improvements to existing vehicles. These vehicles will arrive via Hyundai’s Savannah, Georgia, Metaplant, which will assemble EVs for delivery to customers this fall, with eligibility for half of the $7,500 federal tax credit (Carney, 2024).

The key technical changes to Hyundai’s popular EV are increases in battery pack capacity from 58.0 kilowatt-hours to 63.0 kWh for the standard-range models and from 77.4 kWh to 84 kWh for the long-range models. Maximum driving range depends on the specific wheel/tire combination, but the maximum distance for the standard-range battery grows from 260 miles to more than 280 miles. The long-range pack goes from 303 miles to more than 310 miles (Carney, 2024).

As it is doing in many respects, Hyundai is leading legacy automakers in adopting Tesla’s North American Charging System connector design (Carney, 2024).

Hyundai has made the 2025 Ioniq 5 the first non-Tesla to come to market with that company’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) port built into the car. This provides access to more than 17,000 Tesla Superchargers nationwide, while an included adapter will let drivers also connect to the SAE CCS charger networks if needed (Carney, 2024).

Hyundai has added physical controls for radio tuning and for front seat heaters in response to unrelenting customer insistence that these functions need to be simple and available from when the car is switched on. The climate control interface remains capacitive touch, but it is simplified for improved usability (Carney, 2024).

The infotainment display is now 12.3 inches, and the system includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard equipment. The car also gains Hyundai Digital Key 2 phone-as-key, over-the-air update capability, and upgraded Smart Cruise Control. SEL and higher trim levels have blind spot collision avoidance technology and radar-based rear-seat occupant alert (Carney, 2024).

Hyundai has reinforced the Ioniq 5’s doors and B-pillar to improve protection in side impacts. In another triumph of practical customer demand, Hyundai has added a wiper and washer to the Ioniq 5’s rear hatch (Carney, 2024).

In addition, the Ioniq 5 XRT, an off-road-themed version of the EV, has a 23-mm suspension lift, 18-inch all-terrain wheels and tires, all-weather floormats, and front tow hooks. The XRT is available only in dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration with the 84 kWh long-range battery pack (Carney, 2024).

Analysis

Hyundai’s focus on practicality, innovation, and human-centered design in its EV development is worth appreciating and learning from. The Ioniq 5 XRT introduces key improvements, like adding physical controls and adopting Tesla’s charging port, which enhances practicality and responds directly to customer feedback. This approach to usability and customer preferences resonates with my focus on optimizing front trunk (frunk) space for Honda’s electric trucks/SUVs. In my design process, I will continuously monitor feedback from my surveys, recognizing that this project is not just about creating extra storage but also about adding versatility for outdoor activities and everyday use.

References:

Carney, D. (2024, September 6). 2025 Hyundai EV upgrades include Tesla’s Nacs Charging Port. Design News. https://www.designnews.com/automotive-engineering/2025-hyundai-ev-upgrades-include-tesla-s-nacs-charging-port